Puck Daddy

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman James Wisniewski was having himself a nice game before being forced to leave it early in the second period. During Columbus' 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings, Wisniewski tied the game 1-1 on the power play late in the first period to extend his point streak to four games.

At 1:39 of the second period, Wisniewski got tangled up with Nick Foligno and fell awkwardly into the boards, viciously hitting his back and shoulder:

He didn't return to the game. Afterward, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch, Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards said that Wisniewski suffered a concussion, along with injuries to his back and leg.

In other news concerning NHL defensemen suffering head injuries, Anaheim Ducks blueliner was crunched against the boards after a hit from Jarret Stoll of the Los Angeles Kings early in the second period of their game:

No call was made on the hit and Fowler left the game. The official word was that he was "doubtful" to return with an "upper-body" injury. Fowler never made it back for the end of the game.

Was the hit worthy of supplemental discipline? Stoll's grabbing of Fowler's jersey from behind and then shoving him into the boards will certainly raise the eyebrow of Brendan Shanahan. There will likely be a medical update on Fowler sometime on Sunday, and with the Kings not playing again until Tuesday, there is no need to rush a decision on Stoll for Shanahan.